Washbench.



. LBOOK.

I wAsHBENcHL APPLICATION FILED 061:.9, 1911. v 1,028,533. Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..wASHlNu't0N, D. C-

W. J. BOOK.

- WASHBENGH. I *1 APPLICATION FILED 001:.9, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. w. J. BOOK. WASHBENGH.

APPLICATION FILED O'OT.9, 1911.

' Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.,WAsmNo'roN, D. c.

- WILLIAM J. BOOK, or EARLING, IOWA.

wAsrIBENoH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 9, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912. Serial No. 653,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Earling, in the county of Shelby, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washbenches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wash benches and has for an object to provide a device of this character including supports for washing and rinsing tubs, these supports being supported by pivoted leg frames and pivoted intermediate uprights, the leg frames being held in open position by folding braces connected to the intermediate uprights, and the intermediate uprights in turn being connected to the supports through the instrumentality of pivoted braces so that virtually both leg frames and theintermediate uprights are rigidly anchored to the supports when in operative position 'so that collapsing of the bench under the weight of the tub is positively prevented.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide a novel H-shaped member which is detachably connected to the tub supports and performs the dual function of a brace for both the uprights and the supports and also a common tub rest for both the washing and rinsing tubs.

With the above obj eots in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be made in the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wash bench embodying my improvements in operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the wash bench. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the uprights. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wash bench folded. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the trough member.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts, 10 designates spaced parallel bars which are connected together adjacent to their opposite ends by cross bars 11 and are furthermore equipped on their top faces with U-shaped brackets 12, these brackets relnovably securing a substantially H -shaped cross bar 18 to the bars 10, the H-shaped bar cooperating with the cross bars in supporting washing and rinsing tubs, and further forming a common support for both tubs. Leg frames are arranged adjacent to the opposite ends of the bars 10, each frame comprising spaced legs 14 connected together adjacent to their lower ends by a cross bar 15 and provided adjacent to their upper ends with orifices through which and registering orifices formed in the bars 10 pivot bolts 16are passed. A pair of uprights 17 are connected adjacent to their opposite ends by cross bars 18, the uprights being approximately centrally provided with openings through which and similar openings formed in the bars 10 pivot bolts 19 are passed, these uprights bear within the indentations 20 at the ends of the H-shaped cross bar when in operative position and by virtue of the H-shaped cross bar being anchored to the bars 10 through the instrumentality of the brackets 12 the uprights are also looked rigidly to the bars 10. The lower ends of the uprights perform the function of legs which support the intermediate portions of the bars 10 against collapsing under the weight of the tubs.

For anchoring the leg frames to the uprights, a folding brace is arranged on each side of the uprights, each brace comprising a pair of rods 21 pivotally connected together at their inner ends by a pivot bolt 22 one of the rods being provided at its outer end with a notch 23 which receives the upper edge of the related leg frame cross bar 15, and the other of the rods being pro vided with an opening 24 which loosely receives a rung 25 that is terminally connected to the uprights. When the braces are in their operative position, both leg frames are locked through the instrumentality of the braces to the uprights and collapsing of the leg frames prevented. It is now clear that since both leg frames are locked 'to the uprights, and the uprights are locked to the bars 10, when the wash bench is in operative position, all of the parts are rigidly locked against movement relatively to each other and thus collapsing of the bench positively prevented.

For holding the uprights against vibration during operation of the wringer as will be presently described, a pair of hooks 26 are pivotally connected through the instrumentality of pivot bolts 27 to the inner face of each bar 10, and the bills of the hooks engage over a common lug 28 carried upon the outer face of the related uprights when the hooks are locked in operative position.

' manual attention.

For locking the H 'shaped cross bar within the brackets 12, hooks 29 are pivoted on the outer faces of the bars 10 and engage in eyes 30' secured to the end edges of the cross bar. When the device is folded as shown in Fig. 4;, these hooks will maintain the H'- shaped cross bar locked to the bars 10.

It is desirable in wash benches to prevent access of water to the wringer supporting members so that the latter are not rotted. To attain this end I provide a pair of knuckle troughs 31 and 32 connected by a common metal portion 33 which is de signed to straddle the cross bar 18 of the if uprights and perform the triple function of supporting the troughs, forming a metal guard which protects the cross bar from water dripping from the wringer, and finally forms a wear plate against which the securing clamps of the wringer may be tightened without injury to the wooden cross bar. The troughs catch and direct back into the washing and rinsing tubsthe water wrung from the garments by the wringer.

In folding the device, the leg frames are both unlocked from their operative position by releasing the inclined braces and folding each brace upon itself. The leg frames are then rocked into engagement with the bottom edges of the beams 10 and finally the H-shaped cross bar removed and the uprights folded or rocked into the position between the beams 10 shown in Fig. 4. The H-shaped cross member may now be replaced and secured to the beams 10 by the hooks 29 and when in this position will hold the uprights in their folded position.

WVha-t is claimed is A wash bench including spaced tub supporting bars, leg framespivoted adjacent to the ends of said bars, spaced uprights pivoted intermediate their ends to the intermediate portions of saidbars, U-shapedbrackets on said bars, an H-shap'ed cross bar fitting in said brackets, said uprights fitting in the indentations of the cross bar ends and being locked thereby to said bars, and jointed inclined braces carried by said uprights and detachably secured to said legs.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM J. BOOK.

VVitnesses:

LAWRENCE A. KUHL; JOSEPH P. STEPHANY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

